Elections 2014: NOTA to delay poll results in Pune?

Election officials say the option, introduced in the general elections this year, will make the counting process go on longer than usual on May 16

The None Of The Above (NOTA) option, which has been made available to voters in assembly elections before but was introduced in Lok Sabha polls only this year, may delay election results in Pune.

One polling agent representing a candidate will be allowed at one table to witness the counting process. Pic/Representation pic

“The election results in Pune parliamentary constituency always get delayed due to a large number of candidates. 29 candidates are in the fray this year as well. The counting will take even longer this year as we have to count the votes under NOTA as well,” said Deputy District Election Officer Apurva Wankhede.

Ahead of counting day on May 16, the district administration is all set to carry out the counting of four parliamentary constituencies in Pune district peacefully.

Wankhede said that the counting will start at 8 am and, to ensure the smooth functioning of the process, around 1,500 people, including counting supervisors, micro observers, returning officer and assistant returning officers will be deployed at FCI godown in Koregaon Park and at Balewadi, where the counting will take place.

“One polling agent representing a candidate will be allowed at one table to witness the counting process. Besides, the copy of number of votes after every round of voting will be provided to polling agents to make the counting process more transparent,” she added.

Counting for the Pune and Baramati constituencies will be held at Koregaon Park, while for the Maval and Shirur constituencies, it will be held in Balewadi.

1,500Number of people to be deployed at FCI godown in Koregaon Park and Balewadi, where the counting will take place